Nail feeding apparatus and method



` June 6, 1967 Q A goLY TAL 3,32355 NAIL FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Sept. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 6, 1967 G, A. cooLL-:Y ETAL 3,323,155

NAIL FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Sept.

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United States `Patent O 3,323,155 I NAIL FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Gordon A. Cooley, Chicago, and Philip Kaye, Wilmette, Ill., assignors to The Deniston Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Fiied Sept. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 393,899 17 Claims. (Cl. 10-155) This invention relates to the manufacture of headed nails and has particular relation to a means and method of mating nails With Washers.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a means and method capable of high volume production of mated nails and Washers.

Another purpose is to provide a means for mating nails and washers which shall comprise a minimum number of moving parts.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of mating nails and washers which shall be positive in operation and productive of ya minimum rejection rate.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of mating nails and washers which shall subject the nails and washers to a minimum opportunity for damage or injury.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of mating nails and washers which shall be capable of a production rate of at least one thousand mated nail and Washer assemblies per minute.

Another purpose is to provide a means of mating nails and washers which shall consist of a minimum number of parts and which can be manufactured at a minimum cost.

Another purpose is to provide a method of mating nails and washers which shall include the step of imparting kinetic energy to a nail and employing said energy in mating the nail with the washer and in delivering the mated assembly for further processng.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of rapidly mating nails and washers employing an air stream motive element.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method employing centripetal force yand insuring the matingof a nail and washer.

Another purpose is to provide a means and method of retaining a portion of a moving member in a predetermined path efr'ective to cause mating thereof with a stationary member. Another purpose is to provide .a means and method of applying a force inwardly toward a center of curvature at substantially all required points on said curvature to a member moving through a curvedy path.

Other purposes will appear `from time to time during the course of the specification .and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagram- `matically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away and lparts in cross section;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of part of the structure illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed side view on an enlarged scale and with parts in cross section;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a side view in partial cross section of the element shown in FIGURE 5.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout `the specification and drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, a suitable support is indicated at 1. Carried on the support 1 is a nail track member 2. Secured beneath one end of the nail track member 2 is a housing structure 3. The housing structure 3 may comprise a base portion 4 and a nail chute portion 5. The portion 4 is cut away and the portion 5 is joined thereto, as by any suitable fastener 6, to form the recess 7.

As Ibest seen in FIGURE 4, a hollow shaft S is Iotatably mounted in a bore 9 in member 4 and in a counterbore 10 in member 5.

A pulley 11 drives shaft 8 through a torque limiting assembly 13. The pulley 11 is driven by belt 14 which in turn is driven through pulley 16, Iby a suitable power means such as an electric motor 17. It will be observed that the shaft 8 extends laterally across recess 7 and that pulley 11 is rotatable therein.

The shaft 8 carries for rotation therewith and at its upper end, as the parts are shown in the drawings, a spirally Wound, hollow, upper nail-picking element 20. The element 20 has an upper edge 20a with its outer terminus 21 at the widest diameter of its spiral configuration and its opposite terminus 22 adjacent the axis of shaft S. As may be best seen in FIGURE 3, the vertical edges extending below the ends 21, 22 are spaced radially of the axis of element 20 and are positioned closely adjacent and on opposite sides of an imaginary radius thereof. As may be best seen in FIGURE 4, the vertical edge below end 21 of edge 20a of element 20 is immediately adjacent, and may be in sliding contact with the inner cylindrical wall of a well 23 formed in member 2 and positioned at and beneath the outlet end of the nail track 2a formed in member 2.

The nail track 2a includes a thin slot 2b into which nail shank 30a of nails 30 extend. The upper surface of member 2 is grooved as at 2c to receive, in supporting relationship, on opposite sides of slot 2b, the heads 30b of nails 30. As may be best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the nail track 2a, slot 2b and groove 2c communicate with the bore 23 in member 2. i

The hollow control area 20b of element 20 is positioned in axial alignment with and communicates with the hollow axis Sa of shaft 8. The area 8a, similarly, is in axial alignment and communicates with a nail chute or hollow passage 5a formed in member 5. An `air pressure inlet 40 is formed in the member 4 for attachment of ya suitable air pressure delivery tting such as that indicated at 41 in FIGURES 1 and 2. The inlet 40 delivers fluid pressure through passage 42 to an annular chamber 43 surrounding the shaft 8. A plurality of passages or fluid pressure nozzles yare angularly disposed in the wall of hollow sha-ft 8. The outer open ends of nozzle passages 44 are in perpetual communication with the annular chamber 43. The inner open ends of the nozzle passages 44 are in perpetual communication with the area 8a within shaft S downstream of the element 20 for creation of a powerful air stream through nail pick area Zlib and nail chute areas 8a, 5a.

The outlet end of nail chute 5a is curved as indicated generally at 5b. A central groove 5c is formed in a wall portion ofchute portion '5b and the opposite wall portion thereof is terminated as at 5d to leave the end portion open as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the groove 5c gradually expanding in depth from its beginning point within member 5 to its terminus indicated `at 5e. A vacuum or reduced pressure passage 45 is formed in member 5 and communicates with an end surface 5f thereof, as indicated at 46. A suitable vacuum fitting 47 is connected to passage 45, it being understood that the air pressure source delivering air` pressure to fitting 41 may be employed to deliver air pressure tofitting 47 as indicated at48 and to eject said air pressure therefrom, as indicated at 49, to create a suitable vacuum in the passage 45.

A Washer delivery member is indicated at 50. The member 50 includes a body 51 in which a washer track 52 is formed. A cover plate 53 for the track 52 is shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6 and cooperates with a side edge of portion to provide a closure for track 52. A fluid pressure inlet 54 is positioned to deliver fluid pressure through a plenum passage 55 and inclined nozzles 56 to the track 52. It will be observed, particularly in FIGURE 6, that the nozzles 56 are inclined downstream from the washer inlet end 52a of track 52 to the opposite washer delivery end 52b of the washer track 52 and that the nozzles 56 may be arranged adjacent the opposite ends of the track 52 to create a powerful airstream therethrough.

Communicating with the :delivery end of track 52 is a vacuum chamber 57. The chamber 57 is angularly disposed and extends from a corner of delivery end 52b of track 52, the inlet end or mouth of chamber 57 being of a Width substantially less than the outer diameter of the washers 60. As may be best seen in FIGURE l, the opposite end of chamber 57 is positioned for communication with the inlet 46 of Vacuum passage 45.

Similarly, the delivery or washer nest end of track 52 is formed and adapted for positioning washers 60 in alignment with the terminal end 5e of nail chute 5a. The body 51 is recessed as indicated at 61 in alignment with the delivery end Se of chute 5a. The recess 61 has an inclined, shortened bottom wall portion 62 and a pair of aligned, oppositely disposed shelf segments 63. The elements 61, 62, 63 are disposed in relationship with the track 52 and the surfaces 62, 63 are disposed with respect to the delivery end Se of chute 5a, as indicated in FIG- URE l, for example, to facilitate escape of each mated nail 30 and Washer 60 from the structure of the invention, it being understood that suitable receiving structure (not shown), forming no part of the present invention, may be provided for reception of the mated nails and washers.

The use and operation of the inventions are as follows:

A means and method are provided whereby nails and Washers may be moved together and mated at such a rapid rate as to be virtually invisible to the naked eye. The mating of washers and nails is positive and controlled. A supply of nails 30 is provided in any suitable manner to the track 2a. Such nails, for example, may be supplied through the action of gravity in an inclined track portion (not shown) delivering nails to the track 2a in alignment one with the other. While the nails 30 shown in FIGURE 4 have their shanks parallel, it may on occasion occur that the heads 30b of nails 30 overlap one another and the shank of an overlapping nail head may then lie in an inclined plane with respect to the adjacent nail. Nonetheless the nail pickup member 20 is effective to engage and pick olf one nail at a time from the stream of nails in track 2a, the leading edge below end 21 of edge 20a,` of the member 2t) being immediately adjacent and inwardly below the outlet end of track 2a whereby only the shank of a single nail is engaged. Should, perchance, a nail become wedged in entering member 20, the mechanism l13 permits the continued rotation of member 11 without damage to shaft 8 thus held.

When a single nail has thus been picked out of the stream by the rapidly rotating member 20, it is immediately subjected to the powerful air stream existing in the area 2017 of the member 20 and as produced by the air pressure entering the area 8a from nozzles 44, the upper end of member 20 being open to atmosphere. The nail, thus subjected to the action of the air stream and, as the parts are shown in the drawings, to the action of gravity, is moved rapidly into and through chute 5a. At this point substantial kinetic energy has been imparted to the nail 30. As shown in FIGURE 1, when the nail 30 enters the lower curved end portion of chute 5a the point of nail shank 30a engages the gradually deepening groove 5c and the head 30h rides on the opposite sides of .groove 5c which are clearly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the

4 nail point and head being urged against -groove 5c and its sides, respectively, by the action of centripetal force.

Maintenance of the point of nail 30 in continuous, uninterrupted contact and engagement with at least the end portion of the bottom surface of groove 5c by centripetal force is effective to guarantee entry of the nail point into washer 60 and hence to guarantee mating of the nail and washer on `a continuous-production basis.

A supply of Washers may be initially delivered to track 52 by any suitable means, such as by gravity operating in an inclined track (not shown), the outlet end of which communicates with the inlet 52a of track 52. Washers entering track 52 are subjected to the action of the air stream therein and are moved rapidly into the nesting position at the outlet or nest end of track 52 as indicated in FIGURE 5. The washer is individually held rigidly in mating position by the suction effective at the mouth of vacuum chamber 57, the washer 60 substantially closing said mouth. With a washer 60 in such position the opening 60a in the Washer 60 is positioned in alignment with the outlet 5e of chute 5a. Similarly, as may be clearly seen in FIGURE l, a portion of the washer ring is below the bottom of groove 5c. An edge of the opening 60a in the washer 60 is in precise alignment with the bottom of groove 5c and the remainder of the opening 60a extends away from the bottom of groove 5c. As indicated at A in FIGURE l, the point of nail shank 30a is thus caused positively to enter the opening 69a in the washer 60. Thereafter, the nail shank 30a, as it continues to penetrate washer 60, draws the Washer out of its nest 52. While the vacuum or reduced pressure in chamber 57 is su'icient to hold a washer at rest in the desired mating position, it is insucient to resist the energy imparted to nails 30. The kinetic energy of the nail 30 is such as to cause the nail 30, with the washer 60 now positioned thereon adjacent the head thereof, to fly off the member 50 for further processing by a suitable mechanism (not shown) positioned to receive the mated nail and washer for further processing thereof.

Whereas there has been described a preferred structure and method, it will be understood that changes and modications may be made without departing from the nat-ure and scope of the inventions. For example, the element 20 could be deleted and nails 30 be fed directly, sequentially into hollow axis 8a if the speed and assurance of minimal rejections provided by element 20 be not required. Similarly, the material of washers 60 and, in fact, the precise nature or material of the interpenetrating items to be mated, may be varied without departing from the nature and scope of the inventions. Along the same line, the air stream-creating nozzles may be variously located. The drawings and description herein are therefore to be taken as generally diagrammatic rather than limiting upon the inventions disclosed.

There is claimed:

1. Nail-feeding apparatus comprising a nail track, a nail chute adjacent the outlet end of said track and positioned to receive nails therefrom, means for creating an air stream in said chute, said chute having an open outlet end, a second nail track positioned adjacent said chute outlet to receive nails emanating therefrom, a washer track, said washer track having a terminus in alignment with said second nail track, and means for creating an air stream in said washer track effective to move washers therein toward sai-d terminus.

2. Nail-feeding apparatus comprising a nail track, a nail chute adjacent the outlet end of said track and positioned to receive nails therefrom, means for creating an air stream in said chute, said chute having an open outlet end, a second nail track positioned adjacent said chute outlet to receive nails emanating therefrom, a washer track, said washer track having a terminus in alignment with said second nail track, means for creating an air stream in said washer track effective to move Washers therein towa-i'd said terminus, and a vacuum passage communicating with said terminus and positioned to retain a washer lin said terminus of said washer track.

3. Nail-feeding apparatus comprising a nail track, a nail chute adjacent the .outlet end of said track and positioned to receive nails therefrom, means for creating an air stream in said chute, and a nail-picking device positioned at the outlet end of said first-named nail track and in axial alignment with said chute, said nail-picking device comprising a hollow tubular member mounted for rotation at said track .outlet about the axis of said chute, said tubular member having a spirally-wound wall, the outer radius of which extends from the axis of said tubular member to said track outlet.

4. The method of matingV nails and Washers which comprises the steps of arranging a supply of nails in a single le, sequentially subjecting each individual nail to the force of an air stream to move said individual nail along a predetermined path land to impart kinetic energy to said nail, simultaneously arranging a supply of washers in a single file and sequentially subjecting each individual washer to the force of an air stream moving in a path intersecting said nail path, stopping each said individual Washer at a point in alignment with said nail path in position for mating interpenetration of an individual washer with an individual nail, and carrying said washer and nail outwardly from said intersecting paths in response to said kinetic energy.

5. The method of mating nails an-d washers which comprises the steps of providing a supply of nails sequentially, imparting kinetic energy to each indiivdual nail by moving the same under the influence of an air stream, along a predetermined path, providing a supply .of washers, imparting kinetic energy to each individual washer to move the same -under the iniluence of an air stream in a path intersecting said nail path, stopping each individual w-asher at a point in alignment with said nail path, moving said nail into interpenetrating relationship with said washer, and removing said nail and washer from said paths in response to the kinetic energy of said nail.

6. The method of mating nails and washers which comprises the steps .of providing a supply of nails sequentially, imparting kinetic energy to each individual nail by moving the same under the influence of an air stream along a predetermined path, providing a supply of washers, imparting kinetic energy to each individual washer to move the same under the influence of an air stream in a path intersecting said nail path, stopping each individual washer at a point in alignment with said nail path, moving said nail into interpenetrating relationship with said washer, subjecting each washer at said point to a vacuum suicient to retain said washer at said point but insufficient to resist the kinetic energy of said nail, and removing said nail and washer from said paths in response to the kinetic energy of said nail.

7. Means for mating a nail and washer including a passage constituting a nail chute, means for creating an air stream in said nail chute, a curved nail track positioned at the outlet of said chute to receive said nail, a washer track intersecting the outlet end of said nail track and having a washer nest in alignment with said nail track outlet, and means for subjecting a washer in said nest to suction.

8, Means for mating a nail and washer including a passage constituting a nail chute, means for creating an air stream in said nail chute, a curved nail track positioned at the outlet of said chute to receive said nail, a washer track intersecting the outlet end of said nail track and having a washer nest in alignment with said nail track outlet, means for subjecting a washer in said nest to suction, and a gui-de track positioned beyond said nest to receive and guide said nail and washer.

9. Means for mating a nail and washer including `a passage constituting 'a nail chute, means for creating an air stream in said nail chute, a curved nail track positioned at the outlet of said chute to receive said nail, a washer track intersecting the outlet end of said nail track and having a washer nest in alignment with said nail track outlet, means for subjecting a washer in said nest to suction, a nail-picking device mounted for rotation in axial alignment with yand at the inlet end of said nail chute, and means for rotating said device.

10. Means for mating a nail and washer including a passage constituting a nail chute, means for creating an air stream in said nail chute, a curved nail track positioned at the outlet of sai-d chute to lreceive said nail, a washer track intersecting the outlet end of said nail track and having a washer nest in alignment with said nail track outlet, means for subjecting a washer in said nest to suction, a nail-picking device mounted for rotation in `axial alignment with and at the inlet end of said nail chute, and means for rotating said device, said device comprising a hollow tubular member having `a spirally wound wall, the inner and outer edges of said wall being spaced apart a distance suicient to receive an individual nail and to direct the same toward the axis of :said device for delivery to said chute.

11. Means for mating a nail and washer including a passage constituting a nail chute, means for creating an air stream in said nail chute, a curved nail track positioned at the outlet of said chute to receive said nail, a washer track intersecting the outlet end of said nail track and having a washer nest in alignment with said nail track outlet, means for subjecting a washer in said nest to suction, a nail-picking device mounted for rotation in axial alignment with and at the inlet end of said nail chute, and means for rotating said nail-picking device, said nail chute air stream producing means being effective to produce said air stream in said nail-picking device.

12. Means for mating a pair of interpenetratable items including a chute formed and adapted for passage of one of said items, means creating an air stream in said chute to impart kinetic energy to said one item and to move said one item through said chute, a track formed and adapted for passage of the other of said items, means creating an air stream in said track to move said other item therein, said chute and track lying in intersecting planes, means retaining said other item in a position aligned with said chute, said kinetic energy being sucient to cause said one item to penetrate said other item, to .overcome said retaining means and to carry said items away from said chute and track.

13. The method .of mating a pair of interpenetratable items which consists of positioning one of said items along a predetermined path, moving the other of said items under the inuence of an air stream along said path toward said .one item over a distance and at a speed eifective to impart sufficient kinetic energy to said other item to cause said other item to penetrate said one item and to carry said one item away from its position.

14. Means for mating a nail and washer including a nail chute, means creating an airstream in said chute, said chute having a curved distal portion, a curved groove in said distal portion for continuous engagement with a nail point moving therethrough, and means positioning a washer at the outlet end of said distal portion.

15. Means for mating a nail and Washer including a nail chute, means creating an airstream in said chute, said chute having a curved distal portion, a gradually deepending curved groove in said distal portion for continuous engagement with a nail point moving therethrough, and means positioning a washer at the outlet end of said distal portion.

16. The method of mating a pair of miatable items including the steps of subjecting one of said items to a moving air stream, moving said one item along a curved path to apply centripetal force to said one item and to maintain at least a portion of said one `item continuously 7 in said path, positioning the other of said items at the outlet end of said lpath for mating Contact by said one item as said one item leaves said path.

17. The method of mating la pair of matable items including the :steps of initiating movement of one of said items by subjecting the same to an air stream, thereafter dissipating said air stream and ydirecting the movement of said one item along a curved path under the momentum of said .one item to apply centripetal force to said one item and to maintain at least a portion of said one item continuously in said path, positioning the other of said items at the outlet end of said path for mating Contact by said one item as said one item leaves said path, and

said other item in `response to the continued movement of said one item under its own momentum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,534,140 12/1950 Moore 221-278 X 2,613,374 10/1952 Gora 10-155 2,855,600 10/1958 Campbell et al. 227-112 2,886,076 5/1959 Shinkle et al 144-32 10 3,247,874 4/1966 MacDonald 144--32 FOREIGN PATENTS 891,803 3/1962 Great Britain.

removing said items simultaneously from the position of 15 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. NAIL-FEEDING APPARATUS COMPRISING A NAIL TRACK, A NAIL CHUTE ADJACENT THE OUTLET END OF SAID TRACK AND POSITIONED TO RECEIVE NAILS THEREFROM, MEANS FOR CREATING AN AIR STREAM IN SAID CHUTE, SAID CHUTE HAVING AN OPEN OUTLET END, A SECOND NAIL TRACK POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID CHUTE OUTLET TO RECEIVE NAILS EMANATING THEREFROM, A WASHER TRACK, SAID WASHER TRACK HAVING A TERMINUS IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SECOND NAIL TRACK, AND MEANS FOR CREATING AN AIR STREAM IN SAID WASHER TRACK EFFECTIVE TO MOVE WASHERS THEREIN TOWARD SAID TERMINUS. 